Look at it this way: At least the Clippers won't be the number one sports story in town tomorrow morning.

The question is no longer, "what are the Clippers doing on offense?"I gave up trying to answer that one a couple of weeks ago.The more salient question is, "what are they trying to do on offense?"Does Mike Dunleavy really have an offensive philosophy for this squad?Anyone have any ideas what that might be? By last spring, the Clippers had an offensive playbook that was composed pretty much of side screen rolls for Cassell/Brand, with either a second down screen to free up Kaman or a kick-out to a perimeter player whose guy left to help on the primary option.If the matchup was favorable, the Clips also liked to post their guards against smaller defenders -- let them drive and then step off the block and shoot.

Ladies and germs, your 2005-2006 Los Angeles Clippers.

This season, do you have any idea what you're watching?During the first two weeks of November, we excused the rust as a combination of weariness and opponents' getting wise to Brand's m.o.Teams began to double Brand off the ball or, at the very least, beating him to his spot off the left block. We assumed that Dunleavy would make the according adjustments, then the parts would start to move again.So after a stretch of games in which the Clippers couldn't execute a simple offensive set, they began to see some good looks in Sacramento – though they couldn't hit – and managed a fluid effort against a Memphis team right now that, outside of Dahntay Jones, can't be bothered to defend opposing basketball players.

Tonight, we saw a system with -- outside of Kobe and Lamar -- absolutely no talent or depth.On the other side, the Clippers are nothing but talent and depth, but without any coherent system whatsoever.

Lakers up 11-8.Shaun brings the ball up, then drops it to Mobley up top.Mobley gets a high screen from Elton and dribbles right.But here's the thing: Kobe fights through the screen and catches up to Mobley; yet Kwame Brown – asshat that he is – actually leaves EB to trap Mobley.Elton is wide open.And I mean wiiiiiiiide the fuck open.Instead, the rock goes into Kaman in the post.Chris spins, turns and floats a gentle hook over Odom for two.Okay, I know the Clips got the hoop.But if your basketball team can't take full advantage of an unqualified mark like Kwame Brown, then it has problems.

Let's go to the final five minutes of the first half, during which the Clips hit exactly one field goal, and that was an EB tip-in following two missed layups.I'll focus on the Clippers' offensive possessions.For the most part, I thought the Clips played some solid defense tonight.I know the box score says that the Lakers hit 50% of their shots.But the Clippers' defensive sets – some obvious exceptions aside – were well-organized and responsive.Anyway, with 5:00 left in the half, the Lakers are up one, 36-35:

[4:48] General insanity from Kobe Bryant which, if you were watching from home, you couldn't see because the KTLA producer is a spaceshot and, quite possible, a functional retard.Fortunately, I was at the ball game, so I witnessed aforementioned extraterrestrial activity.Lakers by 3.

Livingston brings the ball up.He gets a lousy screen from Brand, turns the corner and heaves up a runner.Not close and, on the rebound, Shaun picks up a frustration foul.

The good news?Livingston blocks Kobe's shot on the other end.[1]Sam brings the ball up in a very controlled transition.Here's my interpretation, though it's complete conjecture:Sam is still pissy over the officiating and feels that he's owed a makeup call.So what does he do?Tries to take Smush off the dribble and drive into the teeth of the Lakers' interior defense – Odom, Kwame, Luke, et all.Sam misses, tumbles to the floor and bitches some more.

Cassell makes the post entry pass into Kaman on the right block.Kaman has Odom and, feeling confident, spins lane and drives to the basket with authority.Great move, but the basket didn't fall. Chris makes both.Lakers by 1.There were other nice features on this play.Livingston darted past a nice Brand screen on Kobe and got himself free on the weak side block.[2]

Though functional retard on KTLA's production team didn't show it to the home audience, Sam politely shoves Smush Parker with the weight of his upper body during the inbound off the Odom bucket.Ball back to the Lakers, up by 3.

Smush is a flopper.Throw him in with the rest of 'em.

Walton loses the ball and, though he initiated the contact and tripped over EB, Elton is whistled for the foul.

Readers can attest that Clipperblog will go weeks without so much as alluding to the officiating, but this is some dogshit refereeing here -- just really awful stuff that a dull child could get right.

Sam brings it up, gets it to Brand at the left elbow.Kaman has moved down to the low right post, but is doubled there by both Lamar and Turiaf – Ross' guy, because Q has set up so far out on the wing that Turiaf is free to roam.Kaman is a lousy option, as is Q way over on the weak side.Corey is up top with Walton in close proximity.Elton faces up and dribbles, but decides against either shooting [probably smart] and working it in the open court [probably not a bad idea]At :10, he returns it to Sam out on the wing now with Smush all up in his shit.Sam is still pissy and decides to spin left and drive baseline.He'll show him! Sam misses the layup.

On the other end, another dogshit call on a clean EB block of a little Smush putback.In a divine instance of the basketball fan's proverbial "justice," Smush misses both free throws.A better question is why Smush was free for the putback in the first place.

Bad shit happens when worse shit allows it to happen.

Cassell to Brand at the left elbow, but not until :11 after a roundtrip game of catch up top with Q.Brand spins and drives left, but decides there isn't enough daylight there with Brown between him and the basket.EB sends it back out to Cassell and reposts.Sam swings it over to Q who, with only :04 left on the shot clock, misses the floating 8-footer.Brown tips the rebound out of bounds.The Clippers reset.

Maggette inbounds it to Brand on the left block.EB drives with resolve to the basket in traffic.He misses; gets the board; misses again; then tips it in. [Lakers by 1]

Just a classic display of Elton's tentativeness.After Lamar weaves his way through the Clips defense for a beaut of a layup [Lakers by 3], the Clippers bring it down, leaving it with Kaman up top as they set.Cassell sets a tough screen for Brand in which he gets pancaked by Kwame Brown.This enables Brand to get loose and collect the pass from Kaman at his favorite spot.It's a wide open shot.Smush Parker is three steps off him and Kwame is wearing Cassell on his windshield.It's a Wide. Open. Shot.

Instead, Brand hesitates twice, then kicks it back out to Cassell with :07 left. Brand reposts, then gets it back from Cassell.This time, the shot isn't nearly so open, so Brand kicks it out to Maggette, who heaves up the 3 with the shot clock expiring. No good.Kaman grabs the offensive board, but decides to dribble it back out just an instant, then dribble, spin and shoot over Odom.No good.

After Luke Walton hits a 3 [Corey fast asleep], Lakers lead by 6.Cassell slings it to Kaman up top as the offense sets.He can (1) go to Corey, who is trying to get position against Walton (2) hit Q at the elbow, who then can drive to the hole since Luke is all tangled up with Corey.Kaman chooses (2); Kaman hits Ross with the pass.Q drives to the lane but Kobe deflects the ball before Q can go up with it.It's worth mentioning that, down six, neither Brand nor Cassell are reasonable options in the set.Just sayin' is all.

:11 left on the shot clock at inbounds.Cassell runs around a Kaman screen and gets the ball in the corner.For all of Sam's crappy shot selections, he passes up a perfectly good look to become Mr. Pass-First, and tries to hit Kaman as Chris frees up.This takes Chris by complete surprise and the ball rolls off his hands.

After a drive and hoop by Bryant, the Lakers are up 8.With :33 left in the half, Sam brings it up.He gets a high, high, high screen from Elton, takes the pick, and pulls up for a 20-footer.The long miss bounces around and Sam finally grabs it.

Final shot.Sam gets another screen from Elton – this one not as strong.When Sam runs off the screen, he collides with Kwame.No call.The leather on Sam's head is curling.The half effectively ends.

The Clippers miss on nine of their last ten shots.As Steve pointed out, offensive series aren't taking shape until well into the possessions.Nobody can make a decent post entry pass. Nobody knows when and where they're to receive passes.Screens are imprecise.The old attack on the weak side glass is nowhere to be seen.And Elton Brand doesn't really like taking face-up 15-footers anymore.

Other than that, there's plenty to be pleased with.

[1] Shaun blocked two of Kobe's shots, the other a monster stuff at the close of the first quarter with Kobe in the open court.Kobe launched himself from the key, about ten feet from the basket, and Shaun stayed with him every moment from halfcourt to the release.

[2] Over the past week, Shaun has been doing a nice job of finding ways to get himself open off the ball, even if it isn't part of the set. It's one thing to attack when you have the ball; it's another to attack the defense when you don't. Really good ballplayers do both, especially when the set has been blown to hell.Readers of Clipperblog are well-aware with my odd fascination with Rip Hamilton.This is why.It goes without saying that nobody is better at spontaneously creating space for himself than Bryant.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

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Comments

I'm telling you, I'm going to have a freaking aneuryism pretty soon. This season my expectations have been so huge before each game, yet unlike last year I find myself pacing in front of the TV going "what the F*** just happened??" It is making me mental that after all our success last year, we give Kaman a huge contract and he plays like maybe he should have taken up golf, Elton cannot or will not take his open looks from 15 on in, and we rarely look like a team that I had confidence in each game that they would win last year. It's killing me softly. It looks like sometimes these guys are just not all on the same page, and it's not because everyone's ready to jump ship for f***'s sake.

Clipperblog nailed it. This is a talent laden team being slowed down by suspect coaching.

The one dimensional, poke and hope style of offense they are running here is predictable and boring.

I'll try not to mention the fact that Corey Maggette would start on ANY other team in this league except the one he is stuck on. (For his sake, I hope he is traded. A talented guy in his prime deserves a chance to play. He is very inconsistent, but that is somewhat due to his inconsistent minutes).

The D is solid. In fact, it seems the perimeter D has improved from last year. EB is till logging almost two blocks per. Aaron Williams is a surprise, and Livingston is perhaps Q's equal as a man-stopper.

Livingston, Mobley, Kaman, Brand, Maggette. Find me a better starting 5 in the L. Cassell, Q, Thomas and Williams off the bench. That is a pretty deep team.

And let Shaun run. He ain't John Stockton. The team I watched tonight will be not be playing in May without changes.

the usual suspects: sam dribbling the ball for what seems like an eternity and then firing a jumper. corey driving, drawing multiple defenders, initiating contact, flailing his arms, and screaming "ooowww". kaman posting up, which is perfectly acceptable if he would just continue w/ his initial move and finish strong instead of always reversing direction for the "finesse" shot - u're ambidextrous, we get it.

yesterday's specials: cat repeatedly isolating vs kobe. thomas taking his man off the dribble (once) or posting up. even shaun was penetrating and pulling up for jumpers.

do we have any semblance of a *TEAM* OFFENSE? where's the off-the-ball movement? more importantly, who is actually looking to find an open man? i marvel at sloan's jazz team, their offensive schemes are so fluid and guys are constantly moving and/or setting picks/screens. and they're doing it w/ at best equal talent. insert rip into this offense and i doubt we find him for more than 5 open shots per game.

i thought we made great strides in the sac and mem games. i thought wrong. i used to take turns blaming dunleavy and sam for this inept offense. now i feel like there's plenty of blame to spread around the entire team.

i hate losing to the lakers SO FUCKING BAD. i'm seriously going on vacation to take a break from watching the clips. i secretly wish that my tivo will fail to record while i'm gone.

sidenote: my personal highlight of the game was turiaf actually responding to my neighbor's (sec 108) heckling, on more than one occasion. i respectfully withheld my pacemaker insult.

Dunleavy Pre-programs their mindset on the court. He has to let his team play according to the situation on the court. Dunleavy has fixed mindset. He doesn't change the course even if his team is in trouble. Why play Cassell for 39 min.? And Tim Thomas? Not playing Singleton for 25 minutes doesn't make sense. He brings energy alongwith Livingston & QRoss. Corey is not going to flourish with Clippers. He wants to play hard, but his game doesn't go well with his current team. Trading him to Memphis for Mike Miller may be a good idea. How about trading him for a talented rookie & other extras?

Again, Slowing Mobley, Clueless Tim and Home-less Corey(he doesn't think of Clippers as his team) are making it hard for this team to re-establish their identity this season.

I have turned to alcohol to calm my nerves. All this one on one offense w/ poor ball movement has made me sick. I was so used to losing that it was expected. Now that we are a GOOD team, we can't win. This team is going to turn me into an alcoholic.

Lets make the great leap of faith and trade Corey, Cat and a Pick for Ray Allen!

I fuckin hate losing against the lakers!!! I hate my buddies (laker fanatics) calling me after the game to talk shit...
Honestly, it seems like the lake show IS on a whole different level..Offensively. Whats the problem?? I agree with everyone else:
1. suspect coaching from MD. Great D BUT No fuckin offensive creativity!
2. Singleton is not getting needed minutes to HYPE us UP...
3. Shaun is not a starter.
4. Maggette just lost his way. Actually, without his Jumper, and his foul gathering penetration, he never really had anything.
5. EB IS back but his second help KAMAN is in a slump.
6. TT becomes a primary option on O when he was just a spot shooter for the suns.
7. Dunleavy.

EB tentative? How about that last play of the game, when he was WIDE OPEN under the basket. Instead of a two handed monster dunk (although the game was over), he pumped faked all of nobody and gently laid it in.

Come on! I think TT gets the ball in the post more than brand does. And TT is passing up wide open jumpers.

I say we start a petition to get Livy the starting job and run, run , run. There's only so much you can do, if everyone knows your going to drive to the FT line and Pujit 9 times out of 10. But with Livy, you never know.

And, maybe the clips should take a page out of baseball. Tell EB to take a week off. No working out, no physical activities whatsoever.

Losing NOW can DO a lot of good. This will prompt them to think TRADE seriously. Trading Corey & Mobley for Ray Allen? No way. Allen is ONE selfish, self-centered player who just can't have 'team' in his system. Trading for Garnett? Fine for 2 seasons. Iverson? I like him. But Clippers are built on anti-iverson like platform. They will have to overhaul everything they have done so far. But with Iverson, Clippers have a better chance. Garnett can cause some serious chemistry upheavel. If Brand & Garnett work in tandem, they can overcome difficulties.

I still believe in Losing Now & Doing Better in later stages. We have a great team. With Livingston & Brand as our core pieces...I won't worry about them for next 7 seasons.

There are many good , young players who couldn't make it to NBA. If NBA can pick atleast 25 players every year and groom them for International Basketball, that would be great. NBA is rich enough to allocate enough funds on these players. If NBA loves USA, this is one of the ways to prove it. To win world championship, year-long total coomitment is required. Asking NBA players to sign up for this tournament is ridiculous.

04/11/08 19:05:17

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